Thyroid carcinoma invading the cervicovisceral axis: routes of invasion and clinical implications

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists about the routes of invasion (extrathyroidal versus lymphogenic extension) when differentiated carcinoma (DTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) invade the cervicovisceral axis (ie, larynx, trachea, esophagus). METHODS: We carried out an institutional analysis, from November 1994 to October 1999, of 451 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for DTC and MTC. RESULTS: Irrespective of tumor entity, carcinomas with cervicovisceral invasion (n = 34) were significantly larger and displayed higher pT categories (mainly pT4) than noninvasive carcinomas. In invasive papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and MTC, the rates of positive lymph nodes were significantly higher than in noninvasive controls. When separate logistic regression analyses were fitted for laryngeal, tracheal, and esophageal invasion, extrathyroidal growth (pT4) consistently was a significant factor predictive of invasion in both DTC and MTC, with relative risks of 10.9 to 67.8. As the routes of invasion are similar in DTC and MTC, all data were pooled for multivariate analyses. Herein, the pN1 category had a significant impact only on esophageal invasion, with a relative risk of 4.7. CONCLUSIONS: Invasion of the cervicovisceral axis is more often caused by extrathyroidal growth than by nodal metastasis. To keep nodal metastasis from encroaching onto the cervicovisceral axis, paratracheal and paraesophageal lymph nodes should be cleared from the cervicocentral compartment at the primary operation.     

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma: prognostic factors

Factors influencing prognosis and long term outcome of thyroid cancer have been described by several groups. It is, however, not clear how the moderate iodine deficiency in Hungary can influence the previously described prognostic factors by other means than shifting differentiated cancer incidence toward the follicular type. Data of 423 out of 472 patients who had been operated on for papillary (372) and follicular (100) thyroid cancer between 1971 and 1997 at our institution have been analyzed retrospectively. Histological specimens were re-evaluated and, if needed, revised. Survival curves were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. The overall 5 and 10 year survival rates were 93% and 89% for papillary, and 92% and 80% for follicular carcinoma. As an independent factor extrathyroidal invasion (papillary p = 0.000, follicular p = 0.000), lymph node involvement (papillary p = 0.000, follicular 0.011), distant metastases (papillary p = 0.000, follicular p = 0.000), and age over 40 years (papillary p = 0.000, follicular p = 0.000) had negative influence on survival. Multifocality, gender, type of surgery (total or near-total thyroidectomy vs. less than near-total thyroidectomy), and lymphocytic infiltration did not influence survival. Iodine intake did not influence survival, however, the incidence of follicular cancer was higher in iodine deficient regions. When analyzing the papillary and follicular groups separately by Cox regression, extrathyroidal invasion (p = 0.008), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.004), distant metastasis (p = 0.000), and age over 40 years (p = 0.000) were significant predictors in the papillary group, while only tumor extrathyroidal invasion (p = 0.019), and distant metastases (p = 0.000) were significant negative factors in the follicular group.     

甲状腺微小乳头状癌颈部淋巴结转移的危险因素分析

目的:探讨甲状腺微小乳头状癌(PTMC)颈部淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法:回顾性分析贵州医科大学附属医院甲状腺外科2014年1月—2016年3月收治的169例PTMC患者临床病理资料。结果:169例患者均行预防性中央区淋巴结清扫,其中54例(32.0%)发生中央区淋巴结转移,单因素分析发现中央区淋巴结转移与年龄45岁、多灶性肿瘤、侵出包膜有关(均P0.05),多因素分析显示,年龄、多灶性肿瘤、侵出包膜都是中央区淋巴结转移的独立危险因素(均P0.05)。30例行中央区淋巴结加侧颈区淋巴结清扫,其中18例(10.7%)发生侧颈区淋巴结转移,单因素分析显示,肿瘤最大径、侵出包膜、多灶性肿瘤、中央区淋巴结转移与侧颈区淋巴结转移有关(均P0.05),多因素分析显示,肿瘤侵出包膜为侧颈区淋巴结转移的高危因素(P0.05);11例(6.5%)发生中央区并侧颈区淋巴结转移,侵出包膜、多灶性肿瘤为中央区并侧颈区淋巴结共同发生转移的高危因素(均P0.05)。高分辨率颈部淋巴结B超对中央区淋巴结转移的灵敏度、特异度分别为14.8%、96.5%,其对侧颈区淋巴结转移的灵敏度、特异度分别为94.4%、83.3%。结论:年龄45岁、多灶性肿瘤、侵出包膜是PTMC颈部淋巴结转移的危险因素。高分辨率颈部淋巴结B超可以作为甲状腺癌颈部淋巴结转移术前评估的重要手段。     

Clinical outcome by AMES risk definition in Japanese differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse whether age, metastasis, extrathyroidal invasion and size (AMES) risk definition is valuable for Japanese patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). METHODS: Two hundred and fifteen Japanese DTC patients (43 men, 172 women; mean age, 51.0 years; mean follow-up, 102 months) treated surgically at our institutions between 1981 and 2001 were retrospectively analysed. Clinicopathological features were compared between high-risk and low-risk patients by AMES criteria. Various risk factors were also evaluated for each group of patients. RESULTS: There were 57 high-risk and 158 low-risk patients. Recurrence and mortality rates were 43.9% and 24.6% in high-risk patients and 7.6% and 0.6% in low-risk patients, respectively (p < 0.0001). Disease-specific survival rates at 5, 10 and 15 years were 84.3%, 74.0% and 63.5% in high-risk patients and 100%, 100% and 98.3% in low-risk patients, respectively (p < 0.0001). Univariate analysis revealed that curative resection, local recurrence and distant metastasis were risk factors for mortality in the high-risk group. Multivariate analysis revealed that curative resection (hazard ratio [HR], 4.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-17.83; p = 0.024) and distant metastasis (HR, 4.79; 95% CI, 1.24-18.40; p = 0.023) were significantly related to mortality in high-risk patients. CONCLUSION: AMES can identify high-risk and low-risk Japanese patients. Distant metastasis and curative resection are prognostic factors for disease-specific death.     

胆囊癌的临床病理特点及淋巴转移的临床病理危险因素分析

目的:探讨胆囊癌的临床病理特点及淋巴转移的临床病理危险因素。方法:回顾性分析2013年3月—2018年3月收治的50例胆囊癌患者的临床资料,对其临床病理特点进行总结,对患者淋巴转移的临床病理因素进行单因素和多因素分析。结果:50例患者中,女性比例高于男性(男女比例为2:3);7例患者无任何症状,43例有不同程度的上腹痛、恶心呕吐、乏力、体质量或食欲下降等;肿瘤部位以胆囊体底部居多(58.0%),T分期以T3～T4为主(78.0%),多数组织学分级恶性度较高(G3～G4者占64.0%),有淋巴转移者32例(64.0%)。单因素分析显示,肿瘤部位、T分期、组织学分级、远处转移、血管浸润、肝脏侵犯和血清CEA水平与患者淋巴结转移明显有关(均P0.05)。Logistic多元回归模型分析结果显示,肿瘤部位、T分期、组织学分级、远处转移为胆囊癌患者淋巴转移的独立危险因素(均P0.05)。结论:胆囊癌患者中女性较多,淋巴转移常见。多种因素与患者淋巴转移密切相关。临床针对这些患者在术中应仔细清扫淋巴组织,避免局部复发及远处转移,以期延长患者生存时间。     

Prognostic Factors for Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Introduction Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) originates from the thyroid parafollicular cells and accounts for 3% to 10% of all thyroid malignancies. Approximately 84% of cases are sporadic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of treatment for sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (SMTC) and define the prognostic factors for overall survival. Methods The records of 32 SMTC patients treated at Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital between September 1993 and April 2003 were retrospectively evaluated. The effects of age, gender, tumor localization, extent of the primary surgical resection, tumor size, capsule invasion, lymph node metastasis, extranodal extension, tumor stage, local recurrence, and distant metastasis on the overall survival rate were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results There were 32 patients (19 females, 13 males) with a median age of 45 years (21–76 years). Altogether, 22 patients had undergone complete resection and 10 patients incomplete resection. The median follow-up was 48 months (9–111 months), and the overall 5-year survival rate was 51%. Based on the univariate analysis, the extent of primary surgical resection, pathologic tumor size, capsule invasion, lymph node invasion, extranodal extension, tumor stage, local recurrence, and distant metastasis were factors that significantly affected survival. In the multivariate analysis, however, only the extent of the primary surgical resection, capsule invasion, and distant metastasis were found to be statistically significant factors. Conclusions The extent of the primary surgical resection significantly influences the survival of patients with SMTC. Capsule invasion and distant metastasis were additional factors affecting the prognosis.     

p53、c-erbB-2和组织蛋白酶D与腋窝淋巴结阴性乳腺癌患者预后的关系

目的：探讨p53,c-erbB-2和组织蛋白酶D（cathepsinD)在评估腋窝淋巴结阴性乳腺癌（NNBC）患者预后中的价值,方法：用免疫组织化方法,检测110例T1－2N0M0期乳腺癌患者原发灶癌组织中p53,c-erbB-2和cathepsinD水平,并用单因素和多因素统计方法对其结果与肿瘤的临床特征有患者预后之间的关系进行了分析,结果：本组肿瘤直径＞3cm的患者比＜3cm 患者的远处转移率高,无瘤生存率和总生存率下降,差异有显著性意义（分别P＜0．03,P＜0．01,P＜0．05）,cathepsin阴性患者的肿瘤远处转移率,无瘤生存率,分别为8．25％,82．61％,阳性患者为33．06%,57．41％,差异均有极显著性意义（P＜0．01）,c-erbB-2 阴性患者及p53表达状态与患者的肿瘤远处转移率,无瘤生存率和总生存率无关,62例未作全身治疗的患者,cathepsin阴性患者的肿瘤远处转移率,无瘤生存率、分别为8．92％,77．04％,阳性患者为44．61％,43．46％,差异均有极显著性意义（P＜0．01）,c-erbB-2阴性患者的肿瘤远处转移率,无瘤生存率,和总生存率分别为16．70％,70．11％,88．30％,阳性患者为41．26％,44．44％,68．65％,差异均有显著性意义（P＜0．05）,53表达状态与患者的肿瘤远处转移率,无瘤生存率和总生存率无关,多因素分析表明肿瘤大小和cethepsinD表达水平与患者的远处转移率,无瘤生存率和总生存率无关,多因素分析表明肿瘤大小和cathepsinD表达水平与患者的远处转移率,无瘤生存率无关（P＜0．05）,48例接受全身治疗的患者p53,c-erbB-2及cathepsinD的表达状态与患者预后无关,结论：肿瘤大小和cathepsinD 水平可作为评估腋窝淋巴结阴性乳腺癌患者预后的独立指标,对患者治疗方案的选择具有一定的指导意义。     

Surgical treatment of locally advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), especially with papillary carcinoma, occasionally have direct tumor extension with invasion of surrounding tissues The presence of extrathyroidal invasion is one of the most important risk factors for mortality from DTC. However, leaving microscopic DTC on the surrounding structures usually does not lead to decreased survival or increased locoregional recurrence. Although endoscopic examinations, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and clinical presentations including hoarseness, dyspnea, and dysphagia are useful for the diagnosis of extrathyroidal extension, it is not easy to discriminate cancer invasion of adjacent structures from cancer adhesion preoperatively. The optimal surgical approach in patients with locally advanced DTC is controversial. Some experts support a conservative shave excision. They claim that these high-risk patients frequently have distant metastases and tumor dedifferentiation, and that survival advantage from extended surgery at the expense of significant morbidity is unclear. Others advocate an aggressive en bloc resection of the tumor and involved vital structures when technically feasible, because elimination of the risks of suffocation or major vessel hemorrhage is beneficial to patients. This paper discusses the management of patients with locally advanced DTC involving the recurrent laryngeal nerve, laryngotrachea, esophagus, major vessels, and mediastinum.     

小于45岁的分化型甲状腺癌患者预后因素分析

目的 探讨影响小于45岁分化型甲状腺癌患者的预后因素。方法 对1985年-1997年间在本院首次治疗年龄小于45岁的全部分化型甲状腺癌患者的资料进行单因素（寿命表法）和多因素分析（Cox比例模型）分析。结果 全部病例共272例，10年生存率为93．0％；单因素分析显示首次治疗时的年龄小于等于20岁、有淋巴结转移或远处转移预后差；多因素分析显示远处转移是影响分化型甲状腺癌预后的独立因素。结论 远处转移是影响小于45岁分化型甲状腺癌预后的独立因素，有远处转移的患者，行全或近全甲状腺切除术，术后行^131I内照射治疗可能有利于提高其生存率。     

Multivariate evaluation of determinants affecting regional lymph node metastasis and survival in bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy

To elucidate the relative importance of clinicopathologic factors affecting regional lymph node metastasis and survival in bladder cancer patients, multivariate analyses by the logistic regression model and proportional hazards model were performed for 86 patients who underwent radical cystectomy between 1978 and 1988. Clinicopathologic factors included in the analysis were sex, age, prior tumor history, time from onset of symptoms to cystectomy, and tumor characteristics (size, number, growth pattern, grade, stage, infiltration pattern, lymphatic invasion, lymphocytic infiltration around tumors, and lymph node metastasis). Nineteen of eighty-six patients (22%) had regional lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis was related to stage (p = 0.0006), lymphatic invasion (p = 0.006) and infiltration pattern (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that stage is the only determinant of statistical significance for lymph node metastasis. High-stage tumors (pT3a-pT4) had 15 times higher risk for lymph node metastasis than low-stage tumors (pTis-pT2). The 5-year survival rates were 25 and 75% for patients with and without lymph node metastasis, respectively. Proportional hazards model revealed that stage is the most significant determinant (p = 0.0001) for survival, followed by lymph node metastasis with borderline significance (0.005 less than p less than 0.1). A two-factor model consisting of stage and lymph node metastasis yielded corrected hazard ratios of 14.7 for stage and 2.3 for lymph node metastasis. The present study quantitatively confirms previous univariate analyses of factors affecting lymph node metastasis and survival in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.     

A novel classification system for patients with PTC: addition of the new variables of large (3 cm or greater) nodal metastases and reclassification during the follow-up period

BACKGROUND: Several factors have been proven to be useful for classifying patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) into either low- or high-risk groups. However, the relative importance of prognostic factors, including lymph nodal metastasis, remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 604 patients who underwent initial surgery for PTC (diameter of tumor>1 cm) were analyzed. The mean duration of follow-up was 10.7 years. RESULTS: By multivariate analysis for disease-specific survival, distant metastasis was the only significant risk factor (risk ratio=65.1) for younger patients (age<50). For older patients (age> or =50), distant metastasis (risk ratio=6.7), extrathyroidal invasion (risk ratio=2.4), and large nodal metastasis (> or =3 cm; risk ratio=5.3) had relative importance. From the results, younger patients with distant metastasis and older patients with any of the 3 factors were defined as at high risk, whereas the other patients were defined as at low risk. Overall, 106 patients at high risk (18%) and 498 patients at low risk (83%) had 10-year survival rates of 69% and 99%, respectively. Only 3 patients of the low-risk group died from the disease. Among postoperative factors, recurrence within 3 years after initial surgery was the most important risk factor for cancer death. Of the high-risk group, patients with a disease-free interval of >3 years showed an excellent outcome (96% of a 10-year survival rate), similar to patients in the low-risk group. CONCLUSIONS: A novel classification system, in which large nodal metastases and postoperative reclassification were added, was devised. This was useful for choosing proper therapeutic strategies, offering rational information, and determining adequate postoperative follow-up schemes for individual patients with PTC.     

Treatment and prognosis of T 4 renal cell carcinoma]

BACKGROUND: We studied the cases with T 4 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to characterize the factors associated with prolonged survival and to clarify the indication of extended nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 53 patients (44 male and 9 female) with pT 4 RCC treated at the Yokohama City University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals from 1965 to 1994. Survival rates were analyzed with respect to clinicopathological factors (patient age, sex, symptom, tumor growing type, tumor size, histological grade, cell type, structural type, lymph node metastasis, vein invasion, distant metastasis and extended nephrectomy). RESULTS: One-year, 2-years, and 3-years survival rates of the cases with T 4 RCC were 30.4%, 16.4%, and 9.4% respectively. In univariate analysis, improved survival were correlated with no extra-urinary symptom (Logrank: p = 0.0048, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0423), no lymphnode metastasis (Logrank: p = 0.1045, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0199), no distant metastases (Logrank: p = 0.0007, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0006), and enforcement of extended nephrectomy (Logrank: p = 0.0018, Wilcoxon: p = 0.0008). In 28 cases with extended nephrectomy, improved survival was correlated with no extra-urinary symptom, no abdominal wall invasion and no distant metastases. In 5 cases with more than 3 year survival after extended nephrectomy, 4 cases were found to have no distant metastases at the time of operation. Non-operative therapy including interferon for 20 cases without extended nephrectomy were almost ineffective. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that if curative excision for T 4 RCC cases without distant metastases could be done, some patients might be appropriate candidates for extended nephrectomy.     

Prognostic factors in differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland.

A retrospective review of a consecutive series of 931 previously untreated patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated over a 50-year period was undertaken to analyze prognostic factors. Data pertaining to demographic status, clinical, operative, and pathologic findings, and survival were analyzed. Univariate statistical analysis was performed based on the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess the independent effect of these variables using the Cox model. There were 630 female and 301 male patients, with an average age of 43 years. A total of 532 patients were younger than 45 years. Seven hundred thirty-one patients had either pure or mixed papillary carcinoma, and 200 had follicular carcinoma. In 153 patients, lesions were larger than 4 cm. Extrathyroidal extension was noted in 71 patients. Multifocal lesions were present in 159 patients. Regional lymph node metastasis was present on admission in 451 patients, and distant metastases were noted on presentation in 45 patients. Determinate survival for all patients was 87% at 10 years. Favorable prognostic factors using univariate analysis included female gender, multifocal primary tumors, and regional lymph node metastases. Adverse prognostic factors included age over 45 years, follicular histology, extrathyroidal extension, tumor size exceeding 4 cm, and the presence of distant metastases. On multivariate analysis, the only factors that affected the prognosis were patient age, histology, tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and distant metastases. These observations support findings of reports from the Mayo Clinic and Lahey Clinic regarding the significance of prognostic factors for differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland.     

Extent of surgery for intermediate-risk well-differentiated thyroid cancer

BACKGROUND: Methods of assigning patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer (well-differentiated thyroid cancer) to risk groups for the purpose of determining appropriate therapy have been developed. Despite these efforts, the optimal extent of surgery for intermediate-risk patients remains controversial. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of 208 patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) from two institutions. Univariate and multivariate analysis of patient- and tumor-related variables was performed. A regression model was obtained, three risk groups (low, intermediate, and high) were defined, and survival curves were generated. RESULTS: Prognostic variables were age (P <0.001), distant metastases (P <0.001), tumor size (P <0.001) and an aggressive growth pattern (P = 0.03) by univariate analysis and age (P <0.001) and distant metastases (P <0.001) by multivariate analysis. Tumor size (P = 0.07) was included in the regression model. Total thyroidectomy appeared to provide a survival advantage for intermediate risk patients. High-risk patients treated by lobectomy had a poorer prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy may provide a survival advantage for intermediate-risk patients with DTC. A prospective randomized trial with 200 such patients is required to confirm this finding.     

The tall-cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a multivariate analysis of clinical risk factors

Background The biological behaviour of the tall-cell variant (TCV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains to be clarified in a multivariate analysis that controls for all relevant clinicopathological parameters.Patients and methods A retrospective analysis was carried out of 332 consecutive PTC patients operated on at a university hospital between November 1994 and February 2003.Results A total of 16 TCV tumours (4.8%) was identified among the 332 PTC patients. Nodal and (predominantly pulmonary) distant metastases were identified at surgery in, respectively, 50% and 31% of TCV tumours. On univariate analysis, only the association between the TCV and distant metastasis retained statistical significance after adjustment for multiple testing. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of distant metastasis increased more than fourfold [odds ratio (OR) 4.2] the chance of having the TCV of PTC, with controls for extrathyroidal extension, nodal metastasis, operation status, patient gender, categorized patient age, and categorized primary tumour diameter.Conclusion The increased risk of distant metastasis associated with the TCV morphology of PTC warrants an extensive post-operative search for distant metastasis to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of tumour deposits in distant organs.     

pT1a期肾癌的预后因素分析

目的 通过术中及术后病理学相关因素对pT1a期肾癌患者进行预后分析。方法对2002年1月至2007年12月期间的168例pT1a期肾癌患者进行分析。所有患者均行单一肾癌根治术或肾部分切除术。对术前一般资料、随访时间、手术方式、病理学参数（肿瘤体积、肿瘤位置、病理类型等）进行回顾性分析。结果 患者平均年龄为（61.8±10.4）岁,平均随访时间为（29.9±11.2）个月,5年肿瘤特异生存率及5年无复发生存率分别为100%和88.1%。15例患者存在远处转移,但未发现局部复发。在单因素分析中,肿瘤坏死、微血管浸润及Fuhrman′s核分级对远处转移有显著影响。多因素分析表明肿瘤坏死及微血管浸润为独立的预后因素。结论 微血管浸润及肿瘤坏死为pT1a期肾癌患者的预后因素。     

Carcinoma of penis: report of 59 cases and review of literature

PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics and prognostic factor of penile cancer, we retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological data of patients with a diagnosis of penile cancer treated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 59 patients (median age 66, ranged from 47 to 91) with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis reffered between April 1988 and January 2006 were reviewed. The importance of tumor size and stage, differentiation, type of infiltration, vascular invasion, patient age, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and type of therapy were assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: After a mean follow up of 37.7 months, 13 cases (22.0%) died of cancer and 5-year survival was 67.4%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that, type of operation (p = 0.0471, Hazard ratio 3.364), vascular invasion (p = 0.0014, Hazard ratio 5.921) were associated with survival. CONCLUSION: Vascular invasion and type of operation were related to survival. Our findings indicate that correct pathological diagnosis and appropriate treatment may lead to prolonged survival.     

Nonpalliative Surgical Resection for Gastric Cancer Patients with Distant Metastasis

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of clinicopathological and treatment factors on survival in gastric cancer patients with distant metastasis after gastrectomy. Methods: From 1990 to 2002, 111 gastric cancer patients with distant metastasis underwent nonpalliative gastrectomy at the Department of Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, China. Variables including demographic data, clinicopathological characteristics, and type of surgery were analyzed for survival by using univariate and multivariate methods. Results: The median overall survival for all patients was 11.8 months. The overall survival at one-, three-, and five-year was 48.5%, 12.4%, and 5.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that five-year survival of patients without liver metastasis was significantly longer than that of those with liver metastasis (5.3% versus 0%, p = .006). But, multivariate analysis showed that the status of liver metastasis, as well as the other variables including gender, age, location of tumor, Borrmann type, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, peritoneal dissemination, number of metastatic sites, pathological differentiation, and types of gastrectomy, was not an independent prognostic factor associated with survival. Conclusions: Long-term survival for gastric cancer patients with distant metastasis is very poor after gastrectomy. The multivariate analysis failed to determine the independent factors of improved survival. So, only highly selected candidates should be considered for management with surgical resection.     

Predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion and prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinomas that had come into contact with the trunk of major hepatic veins

PURPOSE: In this study, we tried to identify the preoperative predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion and the prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that had come into contact with the trunk of a major hepatic vein over a distance of 1.0 cm or more. METHODS: Forty patients who had such HCCs resected were entered into this study and predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion and prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A combined resection of the HCC and the venous trunk was performed in 29 patients. Hepatic venous trunk invasion was observed in 12 patients, including 2 with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. A stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that tumors larger than or equal to 7 cm in diameter and tumors showing a poorly differentiated histological grade were independent predictors of hepatic venous trunk invasion. The survival of patients without venous trunk invasion was significantly better than that for patients with venous trunk invasion (P = 0.048). A univariate analysis revealed that Child-Pugh classification B (P = 0.002), a high des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin concentration (> or =400 mAU/ml, P = 0.023), a large HCC (> or =5.0 cm in diameter, P = 0.002), the presence of portal vein invasion (P < 0.001), the presence of venous trunk invasion (P = 0.048), the presence of intrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.001), and poorly differentiated HCC (P = 0.006) correlated with a worse overall survival after hepatic resection. In a multivariate analysis, however, only the presence of intrahepatic metastasis (P = 0.037, relative risk 8.25) was an independent predictor of poor overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Large tumors (> or =7 cm in diameter) and poorly differentiated HCCs were more likely to be associated with hepatic venous trunk invasion and intrahepatic metastasis was an independent prognostic factor in patients with HCC that had come into contact with the trunk of a major hepatic vein.     

Prediction of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lymph node metastases can be life threatening owing to their proximity to vital organs. Reliable identification of mediastinal metastasis is of utmost importance for timely mediastinal lymph node dissection, although suitable clinicopathological variables for their detection in patients with thyroid cancer have yet to be identified. METHODS: This was an analysis of 83 consecutive patients with radiological suspicion of mediastinal metastasis who underwent trans-sternal mediastinal lymph node dissection for node-positive medullary thyroid carcinoma between November 1994 and March 2003. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed that extrathyroidal extension (P < 0.001), distant metastasis (P = 0.001), the preoperative serum calcitonin level (P = 0.001), operation type (P = 0.004), contralateral cervicolateral metastasis (P = 0.016) and bilateral nodal metastasis (P = 0.031) were significantly associated with mediastinal involvement. Only extrathyroidal extension remained significant in a multivariate logistic regression analysis of mediastinal lymph node metastasis. Prediction of mediastinal metastasis by extrathyroidal extension was best at reoperation, with a specificity of 97 per cent and a positive predictive value of 88 per cent. CONCLUSION: Mediastinal lymph node dissection should be considered in patients undergoing reoperation for node-positive medullary thyroid carcinoma who have extrathyroidal extension and cervical lymph node metastases.